A poll commissioned by the American Heart Association Vermont, a vocal group backing a penny per ounce excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, shows that 60 percent of Vermonters would back the tax, if the revenue raised funds for health care subsidies for poorer Vermonters.
Conducted by independent firm ICF Macro, Inc., the poll surveyed 413 Vermonters over four days about the tax idea, which is under consideration in the Vermont Statehouse.
Other findings include:
• Almost 60 percent of Vermonters prefer a tax hike on sugary drinks tax instead of gas, property or income taxes, if the revenue prevents budget cuts to state service for low-to middle-income Vermonters;
• About 75 percent of Vermonters wouldn’t travel to another state to buy sugary drinks such as sodas if a penny per ounce tax was imposed;
• For respondents living on the border with New Hampshire, 65 percent wouldn’t cross the state border to buy sugary drinks if the tax is imposed.
In a statement, American Heart Association Vermont board president Mary Cushman described the tax as necessary, “because drinks that are sweetened with sugar, corn syrup, or other caloric sweeteners, are the largest source of added sugar in the American diet today.”
Cushman linked the tax to a struggle against obesity in the state, adding: “High consumption of SSBs [sugar-sweetened beverages] has been linked to greater risks for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer, making a compelling case to curb consumption of these beverages. Plus, altering this part of a person’s diet is such a painless way to become healthier instantly.”
But Andrew MacLean, a lobbyist for the Beverage Association of Vermont, disputes any clear scientific connection between sugary drinks and obesity. He adds that he has a petition with thousands of signatures opposing the tax.
“I think they’re just specifically and singly attacking one industry,” said MacLean. “The science I’ve read shows that obesity is a complex factor, with many many different factors linked to it. To link it to sugar-sweetened beverages just suits their political purposes.”
MacLean declined to discuss any links between sugary beverages and diabetes, heart disease or cancer, saying he wasn’t aware of such links, but also lacks the relevant scientific expertise.
Although the sugary drinks tax is backed by many medical groups, including the Vermont Medical Society, Fletcher Allen Health Care, and the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, MacLean said widespread support from the medical community doesn’t make him doubt science which questions the link between obesity and sugary drinks.
State health Commissioner Harry Chen also told VTDigger last month that “research on a sugar-sweetened beverage tax is not as conclusive as it is with tobacco (cause and effect); it is clear that it is not a magic bullet.”
MacLean argued that the tax likely wouldn’t send shoppers to New Hampshire to specifically buy small amounts of sodas, but would mean that shoppers already there for other reasons would stock up on drinks. He said the excise tax amounts to a much higher tax percentage-wise than the six percent sales tax, adding for instance 72 cents to a six-pack of Coca-Cola cans.
American Heart Association spokeswoman Tina Zuk said the poll results confirms what she’s heard a number of times: “When it comes to using the funds for something important like health care, Vermonters are right behind it, and it makes sense.”
Debate over taxing sugary drinks has sped along with some controversy in recent weeks, as the measure passed the House Health Care Committee, amid broadcast and print advertising from both backers and critics.
UPDATE: Zuk provided the exact poll questions and results to VTDigger. They are here.
